The Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal could lead to the killing of 64,000 wild horses and burros. The proposal includes significant changes to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program.
The proposed budget cuts funding by over 25%, reducing it from $143 million to $100 million. Additionally, it removes the long-standing ban on the killing of healthy wild horses and burros. It also includes their sale for commercial slaughter.
These changes could lead to the mass killing of up to 64,000 federally protected wild horses and burros. They are currently held in government facilities.
The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) has strongly criticized the proposal. They say it threatens animal welfare and the future of wild herds on public lands.
Roundups
Wild horse roundups are one of the BLM’s main methods of managing wild horse populations. These roundups often involve chasing horses with helicopters into traps or corrals.
BLM then puts the horses into government holding facilities. These operations are stressful and dangerous for the horses, especially newborns and older animals. This often leads to injuries or even deaths.
Roundups have been widely criticized by animal rights groups, who call for more humane alternatives.
Horse population
Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC, says there are better ways to manage wild horse populations. These include fertility control and restoring natural habitats. She pointed out that 80% of Americans support protecting wild horses and oppose their slaughter.
Roy concluded that years of government mismanagement cannot be rectified by slaughtering the animals. They are legally mandated to be protected.
“After decades of costly and ineffective roundups, the BLM now stockpiles more wild horses in government pens than remain free on the range,” added Roy. “Americans deserve a better federal plan that genuinely tackles off-range holding issues without resorting to slaughter.”
